Board of Advisors

John Phillips is a retired Major General USAF and the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Logistics) in the Clinton Administration. He was Vice President of Honeywell International and Vice President of The Home Depot Government Solutions Group, which he formed. The organization propelled Home Depot into the federal business, growing to over $100M in the first 12 months of operations. He is now president of Phillips Aviation and Logistics Group. His activities have a global reach to include China, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, Dubai and Somalia.

John brings more than 30 years of comprehensive acquisition, aviation, IT, logistics and leadership experience to the organization. He served as Vice President of Government Services for Honeywell, where he has held several positions of increasing importance since 1997. Prior to joining Honeywell, John served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Logistics), overseeing an organization of 850,000 military and civilian personnel with a budget of $114B where he established an outsourcing and privatization program for the federal government. He led the 1994 Quadrennial Defense Review. The recipient of over 250 awards and decorations, John was honored with Vice President Al Gore’s Hammer Award in 1999.

John served for more than 27 years in the United States Air Force, retiring with the rank of Major General. His last assignment was Commander, McClellan AFB, California. The military depot was responsible for aircraft, satellites and microelectronic technology. John earned the highest Department of Defense certifications (level III) in Program Management, Acquisitions Logistics, and Computer Systems Development (DOD Black Belt equivalent). He is a fighter pilot with over 3,000 flying hours, 300 hours in combat. He earned wings as a navigator and pilot and was awarded German pilot wings. He has flown the F-15, F-111, T-38, KC-135, T-45 and T-37 aircraft.

John holds a B.S. degree in biology and chemistry from Jarvis Christian University, Hawkins, Texas, and a Masters of Science degree in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He was awarded the Degree (Honorary) Doctor of Laws, from Jarvis Christian University. In addition, he is a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; the National Defense University; Defense Systems Management College; Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and the University of Southern California, School for Safety Engineering. He is an internationally known speaker and consultant on National Defense.

Active in civic and professional affairs, John is a member of the following boards: Army Science Board; International Society of Logistics Engineers ; Association for Enterprise Integration; US China Policy Foundation; Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Conference; Defense Acquisition University; Shades of Blue (Aviation Mentoring), AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, Board of the Air Force Association; and is a former chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Tuskegee Airman, Inc and formerly served on the Board of Boys and Girls Club of America. His other accomplishments include authoring the book, “Navigating the Pentagon” and co- authoring the book, “Military Project Management,” as well as numerous articles and lectures on leadership and management.  John is a current member of  the Navy League and the Association of U.S. Army .He was the 2010 recipient of the DOD Acker award. He is a 2012 recipient of President Obama’s Call To Service award. He and his wife Blanche have three daughters, one son and six grandchildren.

Andrea brings over thirty years of legal experience to the board as an accomplished attorney specializing in transactional law for both the healthcare and aerospace industries. She uses her scientific and legal prowess to enhance her skillset, making Andrea a distinguished transactional attorney. Andrea has considerable experience, reviewing, analyzing, negotiating, and drafting major commercial contracts, for domestic and international clients. In addition to her transactional knowledge, Andrea has also participated in due diligence audits for major corporate acquisitions, as well as executed the formation documentation for joint venture relationships. Collaboration with potential licensees, inventors, finance, program management, patent attorneys and executive leadership is critical for evaluation of incoming technologies so that Andrea can provide her expertise to ensure robust deals for her clients. Additionally, she has experience researching, reviewing, analyzing, and evaluating prior art and background information on innovative products. Andrea has a BA in International Relations and French from the University of San Diego, a BS in Molecular Bioscience and Biotechnology from Arizona State University, and a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law. Andrea is licensed to practice law in California and Arizona.

Chet Brandon is a highly experienced EHS Executive with extensive practice in the Process Industries (chemical, metals & glass), Manufacturing Operations (automotive, aerospace & electronics) and Industrial Services (occupational medicine, injury prevention, ergonomics and EHS). He has consistently driven EHS excellence in the protection of people, planet and profitability for the globally recognized organizations he has served. He has been highly successful by assembling great EHS teams who focus on people savvy, detail oriented and systems-based strategies resulting in achieving and maintaining EHS Excellence.

Mr. Brandon attended Marshall University earning: a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, emphasis in Economics and Finance, a Master of Science in Safety Technology, and a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Chet holds the Certified Safety Professional and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager designations.  He is a published author and a leading voice in the advancement of the occupational health and safety field.  Mr. Brandon has led a number of industrial concerns, including Fortune 500 businesses, to sustainable EHS excellence on a global scale.  These efforts include experience in: Mexico, Canada, Europe, Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, and the United States.

Mr. Brandon is focused on stewardship of the occupational health and safety profession through participation in non-gratis activities for the advancement of the field.  He is the immediate past Regional Vice President for the American Society of Safety Professionals Region Seven and currently serves as the Chair of the ASSP Government Affairs Committee.  Chet is also involved with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as an ExamCore Lecturer, SHIFT Journal Advisory Board Member and a frequent judge for various scholarship grant selection committees with BCSP and BCSP Foundation.

Mr. Brandon’s current executive role utilizes the remarkably wide-ranging experience he has gained leading EHS, Sustainability, and business operations to sustain excellence in organizational performance for GrafTech International, the leading global producer of graphite electrodes for the metals industry.

Mark Egan, a native of Oelwein, Iowa, has over 40 years’ experience leading and directing small to large military and commercial Logistics and Supply Chain business units. Career highlights include developing and directing policies and procedures for the United States’ Pacific Air Forces Logistics Team to include operational oversight and management of a 400 member Logistics Unit.

The last 20 years of Mark’s active career focused on bringing his extensive logistics knowledge and leadership skills into the private sector; notably with companies such as Honeywell International, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Titanium Metals Corporation, IMI Norgren, and Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.

Mark earned a Masters of Business Administration through the University of Phoenix, Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Technology Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering through Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He holds two AAS Degrees in Transportation and Logistics Management through the Community College of the Air Force, and an AA degree in Fine Art from the College of Southern Nevada.

Mark carries certifications as a Honeywell Six Sigma Green Belt, USAF TQM PIT/PAT Team Leader (Toyota Production System), OMB A-76 Privatization and Outsourcing, Leadership and Management Training through the U.S. Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, SAP Lead Implementer, Hazardous Material Preparation/Certification – Air, Water, Surface, Aircraft Load Planning, Top Secret Clearance: DCID 6/4 SSBI [Inactive], with Turkish as a second Language.